Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Friday announced the state would end its state of civil emergency on June 30.

The state has been under the state of emergency for 15 months. The latest extension of the emergency order was set to end June 13, but Mills extended it to June 30 to allow state agencies an orderly transition to a post-pandemic period.

"Today, we take another important step forward in our return to normal," Mills said in a statement. "After fifteen long, difficult months, ending the State of Civil Emergency is a welcome milestone that reflects the progress Maine has made in getting people vaccinated, reducing the spread of the virus, and getting back to normal. Maine people have persevered, and, although challenges remain, we will get through them together just as we did this past year. I congratulate and thank Maine people for all they have done to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their fellow citizens."

The state of emergency and all its extensions allowed state government to more easily deploy state and federal resources to combat the pandemic.

The state's final remaining mask requirement -- that pertaining to school kids and those in child care settings -- also will expire June 30. However, Maine CDC will continue to recommend that unvaccinated people – including those under 12 who are not yet eligible for a COVID vaccine – wear face coverings indoors.

The order's end comes as more than 73 percent of Maine people age 12 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 64.9 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the U.S. CDC vaccination tracker.

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